updated 10:49 p.m. ET March 21, 2006

IRVING, Texas - The Dallas Cowboys released guard Larry Allen on Tuesday, likely cutting ties to one of the most dominant offensive linemen in NFL history.

Allen, the final player left from Dallas’ most recent Super Bowl team, is going into his 13th season. No longer the immovable force he once was, the team opted to let him go rather to pay him a $2 million roster bonus he was due April 1. The move also saves them about $3.5 million towards next season’s salary cap.

“This decision is a tough one for me personally,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement. “Larry has been the best in pro football for a long time. His ability and performance set a standard for excellence at his position in the NFL for many years, and we are grateful for his contributions to the Dallas Cowboys.”

Dallas could still re-sign Allen, with Jones even saying the club has “made it clear that the door is open for ... a return to the Cowboys.”

But as a free agent, he can go anywhere he chooses.

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